In the violent explosion, He Langzi was like a pile of mashed meat, splattered in the center of the huge pit.
He struggled desperately to get up, but his body felt as if it was pinned down by an invisible giant mountain. The weight of millions of jun kept him firmly in place.
He Langzi's eyes were bloodshot, his face twisted in agony, and he roared incessantly.
Qin Baisheng stood at the edge of the pit, his hands hanging loosely at his sides. His face was expressionless as he watched the struggling He Langzi.
"One move. Just one move, and He Langzi can't even fight back!" Xuesongzi's eyes were filled with shock.
Heicheng narrowed his eyes, hiding the turbulent emotions inside, and thought rapidly: "What kind of Immortal Killer Move is this? The moment he used it, He Langzi couldn't activate a single one of his own killer moves! He can't move, but... there's no sign of external pressure on him. This must be a Soul Path killer move..."
As for Fairy Jiang Yu, she looked as if she had expected this all along.
The mysterious black-robed Gu Immortal's face was hidden entirely in the shadow of his hood, making his expression unreadable.
"You think you're tough? Let me use my killer move! A sneak attack, that's not real skill! I won't accept it!" He Langzi's steel-like teeth almost shattered as he lay in the pit, looking up at the distant Qin Baisheng. His voice was strained and filled with rage.
Qin Baisheng snorted contemptuously, looking down at He Langzi. A cold smile curled on his lips. "Strike first to gain the upper hand. Can't you, a demonic Gu Immortal, understand this principle? It seems I overestimated you. In a real fight, who cares if you accept it or not? As long as you win, that's what counts."
He paused, his tone turning icy. "Right now, I am the chopping block, and you are the fish on it. I can do whatever I want with you. Like it or not, you have no choice. I'll give you three breaths. Submit to me, or I will kill you right here."
He Langzi didn't hesitate. "I submit!"
Qin Baisheng laughed heartily and released the restraint.
He Langzi immediately felt a lightness throughout his body. A vicious grin twisted his face as he abruptly unleashed an Immortal Killer Move.
Instantly, a blinding light exploded outward. The light came and went just as quickly. When it faded, a ferocious giant wolf stood in the center of the pit.
The giant wolf opened its bloody maw and lunged straight at Qin Baisheng.
Qin Baisheng stood by the edge of the pit. His tiny figure formed a stark contrast against the colossal wolf.
Before the wolf's attack even landed, a fierce gust of wind, reeking of blood, swept through the area. The wind whipped the robes of the nearby Gu Immortals, making them flap noisily.
Transformed into a giant wolf, He Langzi struck with overwhelming rage and momentum. Xuesongzi and Heicheng quickly backed away, not wanting to be caught in the crossfire.
Qin Baisheng was the closest. But as he watched the giant wolf charging at him, he didn't move an inch. A cold, mocking smile appeared on his face, clearly implying that He Langzi's counterattack was no surprise to him.
Boom!
Another deafening explosion rang out in everyone's ears.
The giant wolf whimpered pitifully. It abruptly fell from mid-air, its four paws hitting the ground. An immense pressure pinned the wolf's body to the earth.
He Langzi was once again unable to move, just as before.
His massive wolf-eyes were filled with disbelief and horror. He stared at Qin Baisheng and roared, "This move again! What kind of move is this?!"
"There's no harm in telling you." Qin Baisheng chuckled. "This Immortal Killer Move is called Soul Pressure. Using my own soul foundation, I directly crush your soul. You might be strong, but this move targets your soul directly. You don't have an Immortal Gu transformation that counters the Soul Path. No matter what beast you transform into, you'll never be a match for me. He Langzi, I'll give you one last chance. Submit to me... or die."
Faced with such an overwhelmingly strong Qin Baisheng, He Langzi fell silent.
Heicheng and Xuesongzi exchanged a glance. Both felt a strong sense of foreboding.
...
"Sha Huang..." Feng Jiuge watched the departing Yaksha Dragon Lord and his group, muttering the name under his breath.
"The information we got this time is totally useless," Hong Chiming, a Zhongzhou Gu Immortal standing beside Feng Jiuge, complained discontentedly.
"No, we've already gained plenty of information." Feng Jiuge smiled. "First, the fact that this Immortal Zombie, Sha Huang, could smoothly join the Zombie Alliance proves he is a Northern Plains Gu Immortal. He might not be a native of the Northern Plains, but he definitely ascended to immortality there. Second, since he used a disguise, it means he can't show his real face. And third, he has a powerful backer or organization behind him. This force is highly likely to be the mastermind behind the Eighty-Eight True Yang Building incident!"
"Lord Jiuge, your reasoning is sound." The other three immortals nodded in agreement with Feng Jiuge's deductions.
"What should we do next?"
Feng Jiuge thought for a moment before replying, "First, we will rendezvous with Old Keeper. We'll tell him the intelligence we've gathered so he can make further deductions."